Jimmy Savile House: The 2026 Status of Allt Na Reigh and the Leeds Penthouse
On March 11, 2025, the quiet landscape of Glen Coe changed forever. After fourteen years of legal battles, public outcry, and repeated vandalism, the first excavators finally moved in on Allt Na Reigh. This marked the definitive end of the Jimmy Savile house saga in the Highlands. For over a decade, two properties stood as physical monuments to a dark chapter in British history. One was a penthouse in Leeds overlooking Roundhay Park. The other was a remote cottage beside the A82.
Today, in 2026, the physical footprint of these properties has been erased or radically altered. The “stigma property” label often lingers for decades, but in this case, the owners chose total transformation. This guide provides the verified 2026 status of these sites. We detail the transition from vandalised shells to modern redevelopments that aim to honour legitimate local heritage rather than a disgraced past.
Allt Na Reigh, Glencoe: From “Creepy Cottage” to Hamish House
The white cottage of Allt Na Reigh sat against the dark backdrop of the Three Sisters mountain range for years. It became an unwanted landmark. Tourists stopped not to admire the view, but to stare at the slogans painted on the walls. That era is now over. The site is currently an active construction zone, transforming into a family home that pays tribute to a completely different figure: Dr Hamish MacInnes.
The 2025 Fire and Immediate Demolition
The timeline of the property’s destruction accelerated rapidly in early 2025. For years, the cottage sat in a state of disrepair. It was a target for “dark tourism” and graffiti artists. On February 8, 2025, the situation became critical. A significant fire broke out in one of the outbuildings.
According to reports from Sky News, the blaze required emergency attendance and caused a temporary closure of the A82, a vital transport artery in the Highlands. This incident was the final straw for the local community and the owners. The structure was already considered dangerous, but the fire highlighted the risk it posed to the surrounding National Nature Reserve.
Just one month later, the inevitable happened. As confirmed by The National, demolition work officially commenced on March 11, 2025. Images from [External Link: Getty Images] documented the removal of the roof and the iconic white walls. The goal was not just to knock it down but to clear the site completely for the approved redevelopment.
Reclaiming the Landscape: The Harris Aslam Redevelopment
The property is now owned by the family of Harris Aslam, the director of Greens Retail Ltd. They purchased the site for a reported £335,000. This figure is notable. It reflects the value of the land in one of the UK’s most scenic locations, despite the heavy stigma attached to the building itself.
The redevelopment plans were not straightforward. The Highland Council received numerous objections and support letters. The approved design, created by Jon Frullani Architects, is a study in how to make a building “disappear.”
Architectural Insight:
The original cottage stood out because of its bright white render. It clashed with the greens and browns of the glen. The new design takes a different approach. It utilizes dark timber cladding and grey stonework. The roof pitch is set at 45 degrees. This is a deliberate technical choice. It mimics the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains. The intention is to visually sink the house into the landscape, reducing its impact on the skyline.
Honouring a Legend: Why it’s now “Hamish House”
The most significant shift in the 2026 narrative is the change of name. The new development includes an ancillary building named “Hamish House.” This is a tribute to Dr Hamish MacInnes, a previous owner of the property and a legend in the world of mountaineering.
MacInnes, often called the “Fox of Glencoe,” lived in the cottage long before Savile acquired it. It was here that he developed life-saving equipment.
- The MacInnes Stretcher: Used globally for mountain rescue.
- The Terrordactyl Ice Axe: A revolutionary tool for ice climbing.
By naming the new structure after MacInnes, the owners are attempting a form of historical correction. They are bypassing the Savile era entirely and connecting the site back to a figure of genuine respect. The “Jimmy Savile house” label is being actively overwritten by the “Hamish House” legacy.
Lakeview Court, Leeds: The Removal of the Penthouse Stigma
While the Glencoe cottage remained visible until 2025, the Leeds property was dealt with much sooner. Savile lived and died in the penthouse at Lakeview Court, overlooking Roundhay Park. This property presented a different challenge. It was part of a larger, inhabited building. You cannot simply bulldoze a sixth-floor flat without affecting the neighbours.
The 2016 Demolition and Structural Transformation
The “demolition” of the Leeds penthouse was a surgical operation. Work began in earnest on October 18, 2016. It was not a total destruction of the block, but a gutting of the specific unit.
The process involved stripping the interior back to the brickwork. Savile’s flat was known for its 1970s decor, which had been preserved almost like a time capsule. Contractors removed everything. Walls, floors, and fixtures were taken out. The physical layout was altered to ensure that the new space bore no resemblance to the home seen in older documentaries or police evidence photos.
The external changes were subtle but important. The balcony, often featured in news footage, was modified. The aim was anonymity. Residents of Lakeview Court had lived under the microscope of the media for years. The structural transformation was as much about privacy for the building as it was about renovating a single flat.
Real Estate Aftermath: Buying a Stigmatised Property
The sale of the Leeds penthouse serves as a case study in stigmatised property economics. In 2013, the flat was sold to Malcolm and Angela Statman for £250,000.
Market Analysis:
- Prime Location: Roundhay Park is one of the most desirable areas in Leeds.
- The Stigma Discount: A penthouse of that size in that location would typically command a much higher price. The £250k figure represents a significant discount, acknowledging the “psychological defect” of the property.
The new owners were clear about their intentions from the start. They stated the property was in “terrible condition” and required a complete overhaul. Their strategy was to remove the stigma by removing the physical traces of the previous occupant. In the years since, the property has reintegrated into the local housing stock. It is no longer a destination for onlookers.
The Architecture of Erasure: Why These Houses Were Destroyed
The destruction of the Jimmy Savile house in both locations speaks to a wider debate in the UK about “social cleansing” versus historical reclamation. Why destroy the buildings? Why not repurpose them?
The decision usually comes down to the intensity of the negative association. In real estate terms, a property can be physically sound but psychologically condemned.
Public Perception vs. Historical Preservation
The path to demolishing Allt Na Reigh was blocked by heritage concerns. The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) formally objected to the new design in 2024. Their argument was not about preserving Savile’s home, but about the impact of the new building on the Glen Coe National Nature Reserve.
The Conflict:
- NTS Position: The new design was too modern. They argued “high specification” architecture detracted from the “wild and natural” quality of the glen.
- Community Position: The local community council and Mountaineering Scotland largely supported the change. For them, the existing white cottage was a magnet for vandalism. It was an eyesore.
The approval of the plans by the Highland Council in June 2024 signalled a victory for “erasure.” The planning committee decided that the benefit of removing the vandalised ruin outweighed the architectural concerns. They chose to heal the landscape by removing the trigger for the vandalism.
This phenomenon is rare. Usually, a coat of paint and a change of address is enough to sell a house with a bad history. Here, the notoriety was so deep that only bricks-and-mortar removal would suffice.
Property Timeline: A Decade of Decay and Renewal
To understand the long road to 2026, it helps to see the key dates in sequence.
| Year | Location | Event |
| 2011 | Leeds | Jimmy Savile dies at his Lakeview Court penthouse. |
| 2012 | UK Wide | The scandal breaks. Investigations reveal the scale of abuse. |
| 2013 | Leeds | Penthouse sold to the Statman family for £250k. |
| 2016 | Leeds | Physical dismantling of the penthouse interior begins. |
| 2021 | Glencoe | Harris Aslam purchases Allt Na Reigh from the Savile estate. |
| 2023 | Glencoe | “Dumble the Wizard” slogans painted on the cottage walls. |
| 2024 | Glencoe | Highland Council approves “Hamish House” plans (June). |
| 2025 | Glencoe | Fire damages outbuilding (Feb). Demolition begins (March). |
| 2026 | Glencoe | Construction of the new timber-clad home is underway. |
FAQs
Does the Jimmy Savile house still stand in 2026?
No. The Leeds penthouse was gutted and remodelled in 2016. The Glencoe cottage was demolished starting March 11, 2025. Neither property exists in its original form.
Who owns the Glencoe cottage now?
The site is owned by the family of Harris Aslam, the director of the Fife-based convenience store chain Greens Retail Ltd.
What is being built in place of the Savile Glencoe house?
A modern, three-bedroom family home is being constructed. It features dark timber cladding, a steep 45-degree roof, and an outbuilding named “Hamish House” to honour mountaineer Hamish MacInnes.
Can you visit the site of Jimmy Savile’s former house?
The Leeds site is private property within a residential block and is not accessible. The Glencoe site is visible from the A82 road, but it is an active construction site and private land. Trespassing is not permitted.
What happened to the contents of the Leeds penthouse?
The contents were auctioned or disposed of shortly after his death, before the full scale of the scandal was known. The physical fittings were removed during the 2016 renovation.
Why was Allt Na Reigh demolished instead of renovated?
Renovation was deemed unviable due to the extreme stigma and repeated vandalism. The new owners and the council agreed that a fresh start was necessary to stop the site from being a focal point for negativity.
Is the new house in Glencoe open to the public?
No. It is intended to be a private family residence.
Who was Hamish MacInnes and why is he linked to the house?
Dr Hamish MacInnes was a world-renowned mountaineer and inventor who owned the cottage before Savile. He founded the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team and invented the MacInnes Stretcher. The new owners are highlighting his legacy to reclaim the site’s history.
Conclusion
The physical era of the Jimmy Savile house has ended. In Leeds, the penthouse has been absorbed back into the anonymous fabric of the city. In Glencoe, the white cottage that stood as a stark reminder of the past has been levelled.
The demolition of Allt Na Reigh in March 2025 was more than a construction project. It was a necessary act of closure for the Highlands. By removing the target, the community hopes to end the cycle of vandalism and dark tourism. The rise of “Hamish House” represents a new chapter. It turns the page from a history of abuse to a legacy of rescue and endurance. The stain on the landscape is officially gone.
What are your thoughts? Should sites of historical trauma be demolished to erase the memory, or preserved for education? Share your views in the comments below.
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